When I think back on my favorite teachers, I realize they all share one trait in common – they listen. Summer Institute featured lecturer Cathy Cohen has made listening a radical methodology for studying sexual attitudes and behaviors, so know doubt she will be a great teacher who you won’t want to miss this summer at the Summer Institute on Race, Gender, and Sexuality! 
Dr. Cohen is perhaps most famous for her books The Boundaries of Blackness: AIDS and the Breakdown of Black Politics and Women Transforming Politics: An Alternative Reader, but her research illustrates that she will be an excellent teacher because she listens, and most importantly she listens to youth and young adults of color.
Dissatisfied with popular perceptions of Black youth and concerned by they way those perceptions were employed in outreach programs, Dr. Cohen tried something radical. She started the Black Youth Project and set out to listen to young adults, allowing them to express their own opinions. She wanted to understand young adults’ attitudes, their experiences, and learn how they understand the world around them. By asking youtn of multiple racial identities about their beliefs she shattered myths about Black youth and empowered young adult voices to drown out the stereotypes.
Unafraid to ask the difficult questions about sex, Dr. Cohen found that Black youth exhibit sexual empowerment. Black youth reported feeling good about themselves when they have sex and in control when they have sex at higher levels than Hispanic and White youth. They also reported higher levels of comfort with telling their partner what they want sexually, whether they are ready for sex, and asking for condoms.
Thankfully, Dr. Cohen did not put Black youth’s attitudes and experiences with sex in a box dislocated from the rest of their experiences. While Black youth exhibit sexual empowerment, they suffer from political alienation, feeling that the government and institutions “don’t care” about them.
Considered along side one of another, I see Dr. Cohen’s work with Black youth as a call to action for all sexuality educators and advocates. Since Black youth exhibit healthy sexual empowerment but suffer from political alienation, sexuality educators and advocates should ask ourselves how we can encourage Black youth to connect their sexual empowerment to their political potential and bring Black youth to forefront of sexuality education and advocacy as leaders.
This summer, I look forward to being in a classroom with Cathy Cohen and exploring that possibility. I hope you’ll join me.
**It's not too late to apply. The deadline for students in the United States is extended to May 1 with no late fee!***
